Incredible Facts

There are still places on Earth where no human foot has set foot.

But also on our planet there are places where people should not have lived, but they still live there.

Whether it's unbearable heat, Siberian frosts, or an island that is almost impossible to get to, some people are unwilling or unable to leave their places of residence for one reason or another.

Here is a list of 25 such places.

25. Atacama Desert, Chile/Peru

This desert is considered the driest place on Earth. It rains here 4 times in a thousand years.

Temperatures can range from incredibly cold at night to stifling heat during the day.

Despite these conditions, over 1 million people consider the desert their home, and most of them work in a copper mine.

24. Verkhoyansk, Russia

Despite the fact that this is one of the coldest places on our planet, and officially coldest city on earth, Verkhoyansk is still inhabited.

Where the temperature reached the mark -69.8 degrees Celsius lives a little over 1,200 people.

23. Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

This is the largest in the country active volcano, which is located on the island of Java, near the city of Yogyakarta.

Merapi is also called the "fiery mountain", and it erupted more than 60 times in 500 years. But this did not force nearly a quarter of a million residents to leave their homes, located on fertile land in the shadow of a volcano.

22. Kivu (Lake), Rwanda/Democratic Republic of the Congo

At the bottom of this lake are several million cubic meters of methane and carbon dioxide. If all this comes to the surface, more than 2 million people could be affected.

21. Pitcairn Islands

Sometimes they are called "the smallest democracy on Earth." This state is the place of residence for 50 residents from 9 families.

On the island no harbor or airport- can only be reached by canoe. But there is high-speed Internet.

20. Cook Islands, Australia and Oceania

Only 4 people live here. Used to be here railroad station where the trains were fueled to cross longest straight road on earth.

Since nothing grows on the island, the inhabitants have to bring all the food and drinking water by boat.

19. Minqin, China

This area has a sad future. The rapid growth of the population has led to the fact that on the site of the only river passing through the district, desert formed.

Here left only 155 square kilometers of fertile land.

18. La Rinconada, Peru

The city is located in the Andes at an altitude of about 5 100 meters above sea level. That makes La Rinconada the highest human settlement on the planet. You can get into the city only by climbing a narrow mountain road.

Plus, its ecology is completely unfavorable. Except almost underdeveloped sewerage and wastewater systems, here you can find high mercury content, which remains after gold mining.

live here about 30,000 people, many of which suffer from mercury poisoning.

17. Chernobyl, Ukraine

After a tragic accident that happened in 1986, almost all the inhabitants of this city were evacuated.

To date some workers still live in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, but the time of their stay is limited - only a few days a week they can live there.

It should be noted that the Exclusion Zone is a territory into which no free access, since after the accident she was subjected to intense contamination with long-lived radionuclides.

16. Linfen, China

Until 1978, this city was known for its pure spring water, greenery and rich agricultural culture, which earned it the nickname " Modern city fruits and flowers."

But after the city was turned into the main industrial center of coal mining, furnishings environment changed drastically.

On the this moment it is one of the most polluted cities in the world: air polluted with ash, carbon, leadandorganic chemicals.

15. Pompeii, Italy

After the destruction brought by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79, this ancient Roman city, located in the Campania region and buried under volcanic ash, is still a place of residence for some people.

And all because of the fertile land. Even despite the fact that frozen lava lies at every step, people consider the risk of living in the city justified.

14. Socotra (island), Yemen

Known as "the most ethereal place on Earth", this island is located in the northwest Indian Ocean, about 250 km from the Somali Peninsula, and 350 km south of the Arabian Peninsula.

This makes it so isolated from the rest of the world that most of the flora and faunaimpossible to findnowhere else.

There are only two roads here, but the inhabitants, who number just over 40,000, it does not bother.

Socotra is inhabited mainly by shepherds, fishermen and farmers - they all breed frankincense and aloe, as well as sheep and goats.

13. Barrow (Alaska), USA

Barrow is most northern city in the USA. It is located about 2,100 km from the North Pole, which makes the city incredibly cold.

In addition, Barrow is included in the list settlements who can boast the harshest environmental conditions.

Only 109 days a year the temperature can rise above 0 degrees Celsius. On the average the temperature in the city is below zero for 324 days a year. Plus, frosts and snowfalls can begin in any month, and the polar nights here are incredibly long.

12. Tristan da Cunha (Islands)

Together with Easter Island and the Pitcairn Islands, it is on the list the most remote settlements on the planet.

Tristan da Cunha is located 2,816 km from South Africa and 3,360 km from South America. You can only get here by fishing boats or scientific vessels. but be careful - locals not very welcoming to tourists.

It is worth noting that immigration is illegal here.

11. Bajo, Philippines

This is not so much a locality as an ethnic group that lives in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Indigenous peoples and tribes from nearby areas were nicknamed "Sea Gypsies" because of their way of life. Even though more and more Bajo decide to move to land, there are families who continue to life on the water.

They live without drinking water and electricity, and they stick to the shore only when it is necessary to bury the dead.

10. Kifuka, Democratic Republic of the Congo

If you are afraid of lightning, then you will definitely not like it here. This village is where lightning strikes regularly, and for every square kilometer there are about 60 lightning strikes every year.

9. Meghalaya, India

This state in India is famous for its torrential downpours and monsoons. The town of Cherrapunji, which is located in this state, has become famous as the rainiest place on Earth - rainfall exceeds 11,000 mm. This amount of precipitation led to the emergence of unique plants.

8. Muli, Faroe Islands

Despite its extremely unstable weather and the complete or partial absence of minerals and vegetation, the four residents of this tiny village in the Faroe Islands are not going to leave their home just yet.

7. Motuo, China

This is the place where incredibly hard to get to. The path to this isolated settlement is considered the most difficult in the world. Here live about 10,000 people.

Here no roads and no communication with the outside world. To get to the mysterious (the word "Motuo" means "hidden, mysterious lotus") you need to make your way through the mountains, and the journey can take a week.

6. Norilsk, Russia

Besides the fact that Norilsk is one of coldest cities on earth, it is also one of most environmentally polluted cities on our planet.

5. Dallol, Ethiopia

This settlement can "boast" of the most high average annual temperature on Earth. Between 1960 and 1966, the highest average annual temperature was recorded here - 34 degrees Celsius.

In addition, Dallol - one of the most remote places on the ground. Here no roads, and to get to it, you need to use the caravan routes, which are aimed at collecting and delivering salt.

Nearby, below sea level, is Dallol volcano(last eruption in 1926). There are no exact statistics on how many people live here.

4. La Oroya, Peru

This city is famous mining and metallurgical industries. But these industries have listed the city most environmentally polluted cities in the world.

Due to lead smelting, literally all residents, including children, have some degree of lead poisoning.

The average life expectancy in this city is 51 years for men and 55 years for women. It is worth noting that on average in the country, people live 20 years more.

The main cause of death is oncology. Here there is many genetic deformities, because for several generations they have not left this lead shell.

3. Oymyakon, Russia

This village is known as one of the "Poles of Cold", ie. region where registered lowest temperature on earth.

About 500 people live here (2012). The length of the day in Oymyakon can vary from 3 hours in December to 21 hours in the summer.

In January, the average monthly temperature is -46.4 degrees Celsius(sometimes it can go down to -50).

There are many places on the planet that are inaccessible due to their geographical location. They are on remote islands, high mountains, deep in the ocean. Some of these places are there for a reason, and this location was chosen specifically to protect against outsiders. List of the most inaccessible places in the world.

9 PHOTOS

Located 800 km from the North Pole on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, this place is a global repository of seeds (over 5,000 species) from all over the world. The repository is obliged to provide the world with seeds in the event of a global catastrophe that could destroy all vegetation.

The complex is a bunker in the mountains of Colorado, capable of withstanding the explosion of a 30 megaton nuclear bomb.

Fort Knox is not just military base. On its territory is the largest storage of US gold reserves, which stores more than 4 thousand tons of gold.

Mountain in Utah, which houses the repository of documents of the largest Mormon religious organization - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The fabled Area 51, a US military base in southern Nevada, is the bastion of UFO and alien conspiracy legends.

This center provides solutions in the field of health, for example, to combat the H1N1 influenza virus, but in May 1994 the CDC admitted its direct involvement in the development of biological weapons.

The secret documents of the Vatican are stored in these archives. They are well protected and accessible only to a narrow circle of scientists. Although some materials were open.

This prison is known as the "Alcatraz of the Rocky Mountains". It is also called a super-maximum security prison. Inside are the most dangerous criminals in the United States.

Lost on the border of Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, the Ukok plateau is not accidentally called a calm zone, since it is isolated from the outside world from almost all sides. mountain range. This plateau belongs to those territories, the landscape of which has practically not changed since the last Ice Age.
You can get here only by SUV, only in July-August, since the rest of the time the passes are covered with a deep layer of snow. However, even in the summer months, the plateau does not always let travelers in: due to the abundant snowmelt, access roads are very washed out.
There is practically no snow on the plateau itself - strong winds blow it into ravines and hollows. The area is deserted and only occasionally a shepherd wanders here in search of pastures for livestock.

Rub al Khali desert

The Rub al-Khali desert, located in Saudi Arabia recognized as the largest area on the planet covered with sand. Its area exceeds France, Belgium and the Netherlands combined. Many desperate travelers dream of conquering the vast desert expanses, while for the Bedouins the “abode of silence” is a formidable and frightening element. The mesmerizing beauty of these places does not excite the nomads - they are more concerned about whether they can get to the next oasis.

Woe to the traveler who got lost in the sands of Rub al-Khali: 300-meter dunes stretching for hundreds of kilometers and sweltering heat can kill even the most courageous traveler.
During one of the recent expeditions, scientists managed to find 31 species of plants and 24 species of birds in the desert. But for researchers it is still a mystery how living organisms could adapt to such harsh climatic conditions.

Amazonian selva

Despite intensive deforestation, the Amazon Selva still remains the largest area on earth. rain forest. If the Amazon itself and many of its tributaries have been studied, then the impenetrable jungle occupying thousands of square kilometers is a solid white spot. Giant trees grow so close to each other that it is not possible to see the area from an airplane. Few people dared to conquer the dense and dangerous jungle.
However, more recently, Brazilian scientists were able to look inside the Amazon rainforest. Near one of the tributaries of the Amazon - the Zhavari River, they discovered an unknown Indian tribe. Areas of cleared forest allowed the discovery to be made. Enlarged photographs obtained as a result of aerial photography showed the economy of the natives: thatched dwellings, baskets of cassava and papaya, as well as primitive tools. Judging by the reaction to a flying plane, this is a spectacle for the local tribe a curiosity.

Tepui Guiana Highlands

In that part of the Guiana Highlands, which is located on the territory of Venezuela, there are amazing rock formations - mesas or tepui, which became the prototype of " lost world» Conan Doyle. Tepui have been studied relatively recently, since for an unprepared person to get to them, and even more so to climb, is an extremely difficult and dangerous undertaking.
Now the highest of the table mountains - Roraima, which the first expedition stormed for a whole month, is already available for tourists. With others, scientists are just getting to know each other. The Sierra Neblin tepui turned out to be a real sensation. Scientists have discovered here a huge number of endemic plants and animals, including frogs that hatch their offspring like birds and giant ants that can gnaw through small branches with their jaws.

Dry valleys of Antarctica

On the seemingly completely covered with snow and ice Antarctica there is a dry place - the McMurdo Valley. Here, for mercy, 8 thousand square meters. km. almost 2 million years there was no precipitation. Powerful Katabatic winds, the speed of which reaches 320 km / h, and rocky spurs make this place almost inaccessible to humans.
In the absence of snow, temperatures of -50°C seem extremely cold. It is not surprising that in this place there is no life except for some types of bacteria.
However, people rarely come here. Since 2004, NASA has been using the Dry Valleys to test descent spacecraft, as the conditions in these places are as close to Martian as possible.

Irian Jaya

Indonesian-owned West Papua, also called Irian Jaya, is one of the most isolated places from civilization, despite the fact that it is less than 1000 km from Australia. Here life flows as well as several hundred years ago: pristine nature and primitive tribes are not very happy with strangers.
Getting to Irian Jaya requires a few tiring flights, but getting deeper into its heart of virgin highland forests, which is a real paradise for zoologists and botanists, requires more than good physical shape. Not everyone can breathe humid and stuffy air all day long, wander through swamps and bogs through an overhanging canopy of vegetation.
Papuan tribes live in the remote highlands, who a few decades ago hunted by cannibalism and did not suspect the existence of a “other” world. Here, in the jungles of West Papua, in November 1961, the trail of Michael Rockefeller was lost.

Tibetan plateau

Tibet is one of the most remote places on the planet from the oceans. It is here, according to European scientists, that the most isolated land area from civilization is the Tibetan Plateau. The researchers calculated the time needed to get from the plateau to the nearest major settlement. The results showed that the journey to Lhasa takes about three weeks: one day by car and another 20 days on foot. The Swedish traveler Sven Hedin, who visited the Tibetan Plateau, did not meet a single person there in 81 days.

However, there are still some places that remain shrouded in mystery, simply because getting to them is extremely difficult.
If you have enough time, finances and know-how, and if you are attracted to unprecedented distances and adventures, then here is a list of the top 10 most inaccessible places on Earth:

10. Easter Island

Also known as Rapa Nui, or Isla de Pasqua in Spanish. It is a Chilean island located in the southeastern part of Pacific Ocean. It is known for its 887 surviving statues, which are called moai. They were scattered around the island. An area of ​​163.6 square kilometers has been listed world heritage UNESCO and is considered the most remote inhabited islands in the world.

9. Alert, Canada

Located on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Canada, this place is considered the northernmost settlement in the world. With a population of just 5 inhabitants (2011), the base is located 817 kilometers (508 miles) from the North Pole. This area is home to various meteorological stations and radio communications, such as the Canadian Weather Station, the Global Atmospheric Laboratory Monitoring Service and Airport Alert.

8. Tristan da Cunha

This group of islands of volcanic origin is part of the British Overseas Territory and is the most remote inhabited archipelago on Earth. The place is located in the southern part Atlantic Ocean 2816 kilometers (1750 miles) from South Africa. Main Island Tristan da Cunha has an area of ​​98 square kilometers and a resident population of 275 (2009). There is no airport on the island, it can only be reached by sea.

7. McMurdo Station

The American Antarctic Research Center is the largest community in Antarctica. It is located at the southern end of the Ross Glacier, Antarctica. McMurdo Station has a population of approximately 1,258 residents in over 100 buildings, a harbor, three airfields (two seasonal) and a helipad.

6. Angel Falls

Also known as Kerepakupai vena, which means "Waterfall deepest place". It is the highest continuous waterfall in the world. The water falls from a staggering 979 m (2648 ft) above the edge of Mount Auyantepui. It got its name from Jimmy Angel, the US pilot who first flew over this waterfall. This place is still one of the most inaccessible on Earth due to the dense jungle and the lack of vehicles.

5. Bouvet

An uninhabited subantarctic island located in the South Atlantic Ocean and in the southern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is a dependent territory of Norway. Abandoned volcanic island was first seen on January 1, 1739 by the French commander Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, and later, in 1928, he became Norwegian overseas territory. It is noteworthy that the island was mentioned in the movie Aliens vs. Predators. And, although this is not a battlefield of two alien species, on February 21, 2012, the Hanse crew left a time capsule here, which will be opened in 2062.

4 Point Nemo

An oceanic pole of relative inaccessibility, often referred to as Point Nemo. It is the farthest place in the ocean from land. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean, (48°52.6"S 123°23.6"W) or 2688 km (1670 miles) to the nearest landmass. Point Nemo got its name from the fictional character Jules Verne, the protagonist of the book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) by Captain Nemo.

3. Tau Tona Mine

The world's deepest mining mine to date, at 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) deep. It is located in Carletonville, which is west of Johannesburg, South Africa and is one of the three deepest mines. Tau Tona, the city of Gold is so deep in the bowels of the earth that the temperature inside can rise to life-threatening levels.

2 Naica Crystal Cave

This is giant cave natural crystals, including the largest ever found. It is located next to the city of Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. Miners discovered the cave during excavations of a new tunnel in 2000. It has the shape of a horseshoe. The air temperature reaches up to 58 °C (136 °F) and the humidity is between 90 and 99 percent. Without proper protective equipment, people are only able to stay inside for about ten minutes due to the high temperature. Notably, access to the cave is provided by the mining company's pumping activities. If it stops, the cave will sink again under water.

“Oh, I would give up everything, but go to the ends of the world!”, - perhaps, this thought came to almost everyone's mind. But our overpopulated planet is literally bursting at the seams with 7.3 billion people, and it seems that a secluded corner is simply impossible. But, as they say, you need to know the places! And today on Earth there are corners that are practically untouched by man, but sometimes it is not easy to get to them.

Vestmannaeyjar Archipelago

Vestmannaeyjar archipelago on south coast Iceland is a perfect example of a beautiful and remote place. Populated by only 4,000 inhabitants, this archipelago is a paradise for people seeking solitude.

2. La Rinconada, Peru

Peruvian city of La Rinconada

The Peruvian city of La Rinconada is the highest mountain in the world. The city, located at an altitude of 5,100 meters above sea level, has no running water or sewage system, so its 50,000 inhabitants have to constantly struggle with environmental problems.

3. Medog, China

The only Chinese county without an access road

Even in China, the most populous country, there are some places where it is quite difficult to find people. Located in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Medog County, with only 10,000 inhabitants, was until 2010 the only Chinese county without an access road.

4. Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Skeleton Coast: extreme, isolated, arid

Located on Namibia's northern Atlantic coast, the Skeleton Coast is one of the most extreme, isolated, arid and scary places on the planet. In this inhospitable land, only a few tribes of indigenous people survive.

5. Cape York Peninsula, Australia

Cape York has 18,000 Aboriginal people

Located in the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland, the Cape York Peninsula is considered one of the last areas of wilderness on Earth. Here you can find numerous species of animals and plants, many of which are found only in this region. Only 18,000 Aborigines live on Cape York.

6. Kerguelen, French Overseas Territories

Kerguelen is an island archipelago in the southern Indian Ocean.

Kerguelen is an island archipelago in the southern Indian Ocean, which is located at a distance of more than 3300 km from the nearest inhabited place. There is no permanent population on the islands, but a research center has been built, which is sometimes used by French scientists.

7. Munnar, India

Munnar - small town in the state of Kerala in southern India

The second most populous country in the world, India also boasts some sparsely populated places hidden in the mountains away from the bustling metropolitan areas. Munnar, a small town in the state of Kerala in southern India, is definitely one of those places. A local attraction are the tea plantations around the city.

8. Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

450 citizens make a living by hunting whales and polar bears

One of the northernmost and coldest settlements in the world, Ittoqqortoormiit is located in East Greenland. Known for its unique wildlife, the city is home to just 450 people who mainly make their living by hunting whales and polar bears.

9. Oymyakon, Russia

Oymyakon - a village in Yakutia

Oymyakon is a village in Yakutia with about 500 inhabitants. The real scourge of the local population is the subarctic climate: in winter, the temperature drops here to minus 67.7 ° C.

10. Coober Pedy, Australia

The city is famous for underground houses where locals escape from the heat.

In the South Australian desert, 850 kilometers from Adelaide, you can find Coober Pedy, a small town of 1,700 inhabitants. Despite its small size and extreme remoteness from civilization, this city is known in Australia and many other countries for being the largest opal mining site in the world. The city is also famous for its underground dwellings, where locals escape from the sweltering heat of the day.

11. Hanga Roa, Easter Island

Hanga Roa - city and port

Hanga Roa is the main city and port of the Chilean province of Easter Island. Its population of 3,300 represents 87% of the entire island's population.

12. Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territories

Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world

Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, 2400 km from Saint Helena, 2800 km from South Africa and 3360 km from South America, Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world. Only 300 people live here.

13. Saas-Fee, Switzerland

Vehicles are prohibited from entering the city

Surrounded by mountains over 4,000 meters high, Saas-Fee is considered one of the most remote mountain villages in Southern Switzerland. It is very difficult to get to it, given that the entry of cars into the city is prohibited (only small electric vehicles are allowed).

14. Manakapuru, Brazil

Manakapuru is a remote municipality hidden in the Amazon rainforest.

In the Brazilian state of Amazonas, you can visit Manacapura, a remote municipality hidden in the Amazon rainforest. About 100,000 inhabitants live in this region on an area of ​​more than 7,300 sq. km. Manakapuru is also notable for being the natural habitat of some of the most popular aquarium fish.

15. Bouvet, Norwegian Protectorate

93 percent of the island is covered by a glacier

Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, Bouvet Island is considered the most remote island in the world. Its area is only 49 square kilometers, and there is no permanent population on the island. About 93 percent of the island's territory is covered by a glacier.

16. Innaminka, Australia

One of the Simpson Desert Villages

One of the few villages in the extremely inhospitable Simpson Desert, Innaminka is a miniature village in the northeast South Australia. Located hundreds of kilometers from the nearest cities, the village is home to only 15 people who constantly struggle with the local unbearably hot and dry climate, as well as frequent sandstorms.

17. Foula, Scotland

Fula is an island that is part of the Shetland archipelago.

Fula is an island that is part of the Shetland archipelago. It is one of the most remote permanently inhabited islands in the UK. Fula area is only 13 square kilometers, and 38 people live on it. The island is also famous for its numerous bird species.

18. McMurdo Station, Antarctica

McMurdo Station in Antarctica belongs to the USA

The research center and the most populated place in Antarctica - McMurdo Station belongs to the United States. It can accommodate up to 1258 people who are not afraid of the extreme climate of Antarctica.

19. Adak, Alaska

The city of the same name is located on the island of Adak

Located on the island of Adak, the city of the same name is the westernmost municipality in the United States. The population of the city is more than 300 people. Adak is located in the subpolar oceanic climate zone, characterized by constant cloudiness, strong winds and frequent cyclonic storms. There are 263 rainy days a year.

20. Bantham Village, Cocos Islands

The largest settlement in Cocos Islands

The largest settlement in the Cocos Islands, an Australian territory in Indian Ocean has about 600 inhabitants. This town can boast of the fact that there is no heat all year round.

21. Sapay, Arizona

Sapay is one of the most isolated cities in the US.

Sapay is one of the most isolated cities in the US. With no roads leading to the city, the only way to get to this place is by helicopter or on foot. The population of the city is about 200 people.

22. Faroe Islands, Denmark

The population of the islands is just under 50,000 people.

Located about halfway between Norway and Iceland Faroe islands considered autonomous region part of Denmark since 1948. The islands have a population of just under 50,000 and are famous for having more sheep than people.

23. Iqaluit, Canada

The only way to get to Iqaluit is by plane or boat.

Located on the south coast of Baffin Island, Iqaluit is the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Less than 7,000 people live in the city, and Iqaluit is also known for the fact that no road leads to it. You can only get here by plane or boat.

24. Laura, Marshall Islands

Laura is an island 3 meters high

Laura is an island with a height of only 3 meters above sea level. This is one of the few places where you can enjoy amazing beaches and untouched nature without crowds of tourists.

25. Svalbard, Norway

The unique location and remoteness of Svalbard allow you to observe the Northern Lights

Located approximately halfway between continental Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. In an area of ​​more than 61,000 square kilometers, only about 2,600 people live, and the archipelago is mainly covered by glaciers. Its unique location and remoteness makes it great place where you can see the real northern lights.

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